Angel Flight Australia was humbled to be chosen as the charity beneficiary of this year’s Winton Outback Festival gala ball, which raised an incredible $36,000 to support our work connecting volunteer pilots and drivers with people in rural and remote communities needing transport to access medical care unavailable to them in their home towns.
The ball, part of Winton’s 150th anniversary celebrations, brought together locals, visitors, and dignitaries to celebrate the outback spirit. Guests were treated to an evening of music, dancing, and community spirit under the stars of central western Queensland.
A highlight of the evening was a remarkable $10,000 donation from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, Townsville whose soldiers generously pooled funds to support Angel Flight’s mission. Their contribution, combined with the generosity of attendees at the gala dinner, will help fund dozens of flights to connect rural Australians with essential healthcare services in city centres.
Angel Flight CEO, Marjorie Pagani, camped at the event and proudly represented the charity during the gala ball. She described the support as both humbling and inspiring:
“To see the outback community and our defence forces rally together in support of Angel Flight is something I will never forget. Every dollar raised directly helps us fly rural and remote Australians to the care they need. We are deeply grateful for this generosity, which keeps our mission in the air.”
Special thanks to Robyn Stephens (OAM) for her tireless organisation Sandy Gillies, President of Winton Outback Festival. The festival’s milestone anniversary was not only a celebration of Winton’s proud history but also a testament to the community’s commitment to giving back. For Angel Flight, the evening was a powerful reminder of the strength of country towns and the extraordinary generosity of Australians.
Photo credit: Winton Outback Festival
